Newsletter 3-1-2016
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The Newsletter of the American Pilots’ Association March 1, 2016 Page 1 (NAVTECH) will meet on Wednesday afternoon. In addition to discussing the latest issues in electronic navigation practice and equipment, plans are under way to have NAVTECH members hear from various While many pilots government officials with responsibilities for naviga- around the country are tion programs. dealing with the chills The Suppliers’ Exhibition, an excellent oppor- of winter, a warm is- tunity to meet with maritime and pilotage related land breeze is on the vendors to discuss their products, will be held on way. Plans are well Wednesday and Thursday. underway for the 2016 As always, several social events will be held Biennial Convention, which is being held from Octo- during the week, including a Welcome Reception on ber 24-28 at the beautiful Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel Monday, a traditional luau on Wednesday, and a and Resort in Maui. The Convention is an un- closing Gala on Friday. matched opportunity for the Nation’s pilots to gather, To make attendance arrangements, go to share ideas and strengthen the pilotage system in the www.americanpilots.org and click “2016 APA U.S. This year’s Convention is hosted by the nine Convention.” There, pilots and other attendees can pilot associations in the Pacific Coast States: Alaska book flights, make hotel reservations, and register Marine Pilots, Columbia River Pilots, Columbia Riv- for the Convention. Pilots can also view the Exhibi- er Bar Pilots, Coos Bay Pilots, Hawaii Pilots, Puget tor Directory by clicking on “Exhibitor Registration” Sound Pilots, San Francisco Bar Pilots, Southeast and dragging the mouse over the booth diagrams. Alaska Pilots and Southwest Alaska Pilots. As always, the work week will be preceded by APA OFFICERS HOLD FEBRUARY some fun and camaraderie. On Sunday, October 23rd MEETING IN WASHINGTON, DC the 14th Biennial APA Golf Outing will be held at the stunning Wailea Golf Club. While the winning foursome will get to raise the coveted Admiral’s Cup, the course’s carpet-like fairways, tropical foli- age and gorgeous ocean views will be consolation enough for those who don’t finish “in the money”! The first day of pre-convention meetings is Monday, October 24th. The day starts with the Attor- neys’ Meeting, which is focused on recent develop- ments in pilotage law. Later in the afternoon, vari- ous APA committees will meet to finalize proposals and nominations. On Tuesday, October 25th, the Shown from left to right during the February 23rd meeting of Convention officially opens and will run through Fri- the APA officers held at the Association’s Washington, DC day, October 28th. During these General Sessions, offices are: Captain Jorge Viso (VP, South Atlantic States), Captain Eric Nielsen (VP, North Atlantic States), Captain association business will be taken up and attendees Danny Gallagher (VP, Great Lakes), Captain Peter McIsaac will hear from federal agency officials, as well as (Acting APA President & VP, Pacific Coast States), Captain Congressional representatives and/or staff. Whit Smith (Secretary Treasurer) and Captain Steve Hathorn The Navigation and Technology Committee (VP, Gulf States / Louisiana). Captain Mike Torjusen (VP, Gulf States) was unable to attend this meeting. Page 2 ON STATION March 1, 2016 IMO CONTINUES UPDATE OF ence group. FATIGUE GUIDANCE The new fatigue guidance is expected to be The IMO’s Subcommittee on completed during the next meeting of HTW which Human Element, Training and will be held in February 2017. APA will continue to work on this important issue. Watchkeeping (HTW) met in Lon- don for its 3rd Session from February 1-5. APA’s Deputy Director-Associate General Counsel, Clay Diamond and Captain Andrew McGovern (Sandy Hook Pilots), in his capacity as Chairman of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advi- sory Committee (MERPAC), served on the U.S. IMPA AND MAIIF PUBLISH WHEELHOUSE POSTER FOR BRIDGE TEAMS Delegation as private sector advisors. While HTW took up a wide range of issues, The International Maritime Pilots’ Association including work aimed at improving cruise ship safe- (IMPA) and the Marine Accident Investigators Inter- ty, validation of model courses on radar navigation, national Forum (MAIIF) published a new wheel- and revising guidance on the implementation of the house poster that provides guidance to bridge teams ISM Code, the agenda item of most importance to on working with pilots. The poster, titled, “Safe pilots is the review and update of fatigue guidance. Navigation in Pilotage Waters,” draws on various The existing guidelines (“Guidance on Fa- studies and marine accident investigations by MAIIF tigue Mitigation and Management,” Circular 1014) and surveys by IMPA. The two organizations exam- were approved by IMO in 2001. Circular 1014 con- ined the operational practices of the bridge team sists of 9 modules; one is a general overview of fa- while a vessel is under pilotage and identified a num- tigue, and several other modules cover specific ber of common shortcomings. types of mariners (e.g., officers, masters, engineers, The poster was developed after more than a year tug personnel and pilots). of cooperation between MAIIF members (including Two important principles were agreed by the U.S. and Canadian National Transportation Safe- HTW at the outset of the review. First, any fatigue ty Boards) and IMPA. APA’s Executive Director- guidelines that are produced will continue to be rec- General Counsel, Paul Kirchner, participated in the ommendatory, not mandatory requirements. Sec- effort on behalf of U.S. pilots. ond, rather than have numerous modules aimed at The poster is being distributed to shipping inter- different types of mariners, there will be one mod- ests through various outlets by both IMPA and MAI- ule titled “Fatigue and the Seafarer.” This module IF. It will be interesting to see if the wheelhouse will contain fatigue information that is broad and posters begin appearing on bridges of ships entering flexible enough to be useful to all mariners. U.S. ports. In this regard, if any APA-member pilot The review of the fatigue guidelines was not notices one of these posters in the course of a pilot- completed at this session of HTW; so work will ing assignment, please advise the APA office. continue over the next year though a correspond- The respective obligations of bridge teams and American Pilots’ Association pilots are well-established in various IMO instru- 499 South Capitol Street, S.W., Suite 409 ments. The STCW Code emphasizes the importance Washington, D.C. 20003 of an ongoing exchange of information between the (202) 484-0700 • Fax: (202) 484-9320 master and the pilot and states that “despite the du- Captain Peter McIsaac ················ Acting President Captain Whit Smith ··················· Secretary-Treasurer ties and obligations of pilots, their presence on board Captain Eric A. Nielsen ··············· Vice President-North Atlantic States does not relieve the master or officer in charge of the Captain Jorge J. Viso ·················· Vice President-South Atlantic States Captain Michael C. Torjusen ········ Vice President-Gulf States navigational watch from their duties and obligations Captain Stephen H. Hathorn ········· Vice President-Gulf States (Louisiana) for the safety of the ship.” Similarly, IMO Resolu- Captain Peter McIsaac ················ Vice President-Pacific Coast States Captain Danny H. Gallagher ········· Vice President-Great Lakes tion A960 provides that: “Masters and bridge offic- Paul G. Kirchner ······················· Executive Director-General Counsel ers have a duty to support the pilot and to ensure that Clayton L. Diamond ··················· Deputy Director-Assoc. General Counsel William R. Cairns ····················· Navigation Technology Advisor his/her actions are monitored at all times.” A960 Lisa Powell Townshend ·············· Operations Director also states: “The master, bridge officers and pilot ON STATION is published by the American Pilots’ Association, a non- share a responsibility for good communications and profit professional association composed of groups of state-licensed pilots understanding of each other’s role for the safe con- operating in each of the coastal states, as well as groups of U.S. registered duct of the vessel in pilotage waters.” pilots in the Great Lakes region. Each pilot in APA-member groups receives ON STATION, the costs of which are paid from the member’s dues. Any The poster is available at: comments, suggestions or questions concerning ON STATION should be http://www.impahq.org/downloads.php directed to the attention of the APA office at the above address. Page 3 ON STATION March 1, 2016 USCG AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2015 SIGNED INTO LAW The House and the Senate, in genuine bipartisan cooperation, came together in February to pass the Coast Guard Authorization Act APA TRACKS ROUTE OF 2016 of 2015 (CGAA). The CGAA was e-NAVIGATION UNDERWAY CONFERENCE signed into law by the President on February 8th. This maritime legislation, in addition to author- On February 2-4, APA participated in the Inter- izing funding and personnel levels for the Coast national e-Navigation Underway 2016 conference, Guard and Federal Maritime Commission, includes held aboard the ferry MS Pearl Seaways sailing from several provisions that can impact pilots. Copenhagen to Oslo and back. The theme this year APA followed the legislation closely as it was “The Coordinated Approach” of e-Navigation. moved through various House and Senate subcom- Paul Kirchner, APA Executive Director-General mittees and committees. There are Counsel, and Bill Cairns, APA Navigation Technolo- three sections of the law that are of gy Advisor, joined roughly 125 other attendees. The particular importance for pilots. theme was the coordination of those international Specifically, the legislation includes and non-governmental groups involved with e- provisions that direct the Coast navigation under the lead of IMO, such as IHO, Guard to: IALA, IMPA, and others. The conference kicked off with the keynote ad- Section 210. Within six months, dress of the new IMO Secretary-General, Mr.